The Druid Grove

I really cannot get along with descriptions of characters or places in books, normally I flick through them if they're too long (which measn that, technically, I probably only read half of the LOTR books ). What I really like is the dialogue and actions, then my imagination fills out the details.

Sometimes I read a book and they describe the character but my brain sometimes forms an idea about them that doesn't match the book. And unless there's map I get confused with things like directions, what I imagine just isn't so concrete. It's vague, like a dream, so direction, proportion etc lose all meaning. They don't matter compared to what's happening in the story.

Anyone else like this?

Or got any other preference to how you read? A "style"?

I think the style is the style of writing that suits you
- my wife (not a great fantasy fan) hated LOTR; because a lot of it is so sketchy and leaves a lot to the imagination (e.g. the Balrog).
Personally I struggle with much Victorian literature because it's so detailled; internally I'm shouting "just get on with the plot..." I don't want half a chapter on the soft furnishings of the living room!
However description of nature and characters quite interest me. I suppose any author has to balance the elements of description vs characterization vs plot.

So what authors styles do you like?

I like a Stephen King approach to description: you say what is absolutely necessary to set the mood and carry the story, and let the reader fill in the rest.
Granted, I don't particularly mind if its a bit more than that (a la Jacqueline Carey or someone like that), though I will admit myself that Lord of the Rings bored me to tears.

DaRC wrote:So what authors styles do you like?

Hmm, not so sure really. I used to love reading Stephen Lawhead. Anne McCaffrey too. I read a couple of books by China Miéville and really got into the stories. I'd like to read more of his books. I think it can also be something to do with the subject as well, what hooks and what doesn't.

There's a type of style that I encounter sometimes, but I'm not sure how to explain it. sometimes I don't feel too involved with the story, it seems a bit too detached from the story and the characters, and all I see is a load of words on the page instead of being able to "enter" the story. I tried reading the first Her-Bak by Isha Schwaller de Lubicz but couldn't get into it, and there was another one based in Australia, can't remember what it's called.

LOTR was easier to read because I saw the films a few time and knew the story, and I did like some of it, but it has vast swathes describing landscapes that I just flicked through, like in Jean M. Auel's Earth Children series. Until I saw names and quotation marks, then I knew something was going on, yet even then...

Oh, and for those that have access to the writer's grove I've submitted a story: The Wish Room. Would much appreciate it being looked at

Sylph_24 wrote:I like a Stephen King approach to description: you say what is absolutely necessary to set the mood and carry the story, and let the reader fill in the rest.

Very good advice